General Microbiology Research Group

Department of Life Sciences

The group of General Microbiology includes 2 Associate Professors (Carla Sabia, Patrizia Messi), 1 researcher (RTD-b) (Ramona Iseppi) as well as a variable number of Ph.D. Students, Graduate Students and Undergraduate Students.

In detail, the group is currently dealing with:

  • Study of the antibiotic-resistance and virulence factors in pathogenic microorganisms isolated from foodstuffs, clinical and environmental samples
  • Study of bacteriocin-producer microorganisms to use as natural preservatives or in active food packaging to improve both the quality and the safety of foodstuffs
  • Study of bacteriocins-producers Lactic Acid Bacteria to use as probiotics in the clinical field
  • Study of the antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activity of natural compounds (bacteriocins, essential oils, chitosan)
  • Study of the antimicrobial activity of different “activated” surfaces (steel, ceramic, titanium, ecc.)
  • Evaluation of the antibacterial efficacy of environmental sanitation strategies to use in the community, industrial and clinical settings

Most of these research activities are carried out in collaboration with other UNIMORE groups, other Universities [University of Camerino, University of Bergamo, University of Bologna] as well as private companies

The Applied Microbiology and Genetics in Microbiology and the Environmental and Food Safety laboratories are located in Modena, Via Campi 287, at the 2nd floor of the Unimore building MO-15 (aka, “Istituti Biologici”). The two laboratories are equipped with the following instruments: laminar flow cabinet; static incubators (22°C and 37°C); electrophoresis equipment for nucleic acids and proteins (agarose electrophoresis, SDS-page, MicroDOC system); transilluminator; refrigerated microcentrifuge; centrifuge; termocyclers for PCR; stomacher; hotplate magnetic stirrer; termo-shaker for microtubes; vortex; waterbath, Rodac-Weight and Surface Air System (SAS) samplers.

The group teaching activity is spanned throughout 3 courses of study, for a total of 232 hours.